dynamic

1 of 2

adjective

dy·​nam·​ic dī-ˈna-mik How to pronounce dynamic (audio)
1
a
: marked by usually continuous and productive activity or change
a dynamic city
b
: energetic, forceful
a dynamic personality
2
or less commonly dynamical
a
: of or relating to physical force or energy
b
: of or relating to dynamics (see dynamics entry 1)
3
of random-access memory : requiring periodic refreshment of charge in order to retain data
dynamically adverb

dynamic

2 of 2

noun

plural dynamics
: a force or factor that controls or influences a process of growth, change, interaction, or activity : a dynamic force or factor
a social/cultural/interpersonal dynamic
… describes a world order that seems to be evolving from ideology as the principal dynamicWoody West
Denial has always been the most devastating social and political dynamic of the AIDS epidemic …June E. Osborn
Still, one wonders, Is there a way to achieve … results without some of the extraneous nastiness, the relentless controlling dynamic?Jack McCallum
see also dynamics entry 1

Examples of dynamic in a Sentence

Adjective … tournament blackjack is more dynamic, and more complex, than simply playing against the house. Michael Kaplan, Cigar Aficionado, December 2002
Indeed, one of the most dynamic influences on family life and society in the last century was the extension of concepts to individual worth and human rights. Perdita Huston, Ms., December 2001/January 2002
The new dynamic duo have little in common but a bright orange ball. Stephen Rodrick, ESPN, 3 Apr. 2000
an exciting and dynamic performance the dynamic theory of heat Noun … the high-tech world is, at heart, a cruel, unforgiving place ruled by the merciless dynamics of the marketplace. Michiko Kakutani, New York Times, 27 June 2002
… my memory of specific events is sketchy, but the general emotional flavor is engraved on my mind as a classic example of my family's bent dynamic. Florence King, National Review, 15 Oct. 2001
… the Cambrian Explosion, created the evolutionary dynamic that produced most of the species that subsequently populated the earth, from insects and fish to dinosaurs and humans. J. Madeleine Nash, Time, 20 Aug. 2001
Raisons d'état, not the dynamics of capitalism, created the American thrust for world influence. Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., The Cycles of American History, 1986
the dynamic between a doctor and a patient Group dynamics are important to consider. The dynamics of this class are different from those of other classes. Disease was a central dynamic in the decrease in population. a study on famine and population dynamics
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Taurus Combative Aries and calm, cooperative Taurus can make an unlikely dynamic duo. Katie Mannion, Peoplemag, 19 Mar. 2024 The variables could be set at dynamic values ranging from zero to one, and could act as an accelerator or decelerator for various behaviors. Patrick House, The New Yorker, 19 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for dynamic 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dynamic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

borrowed from French dynamique or New Latin dynamicus "relating to physical force or energy," borrowed from Greek dynamikós "powerful, efficacious," from dýnamis "power, strength, capability" (i-stem derivative, with suffixal -m-, of dýnamai, dýnasthai "to be able, have the strength or capability (to do something), be equivalent to," of uncertain origin) + -ikos -ic entry 1

Note: French dynamique and New Latin dynamicus were popularized, if not introduced, by Gottfried Wilhelm leibniz. The Greek verb dýnamai appears to have been an original nasal present with the -n- infix generalized throughout the paradigm. If an Indo-European base *deu̯h2- (or *deh2u̯-?) "to fit together, join" is reconstructible on the basis of Tocharian B tsuwa "(it) adhered, cohered," Germanic *taujan- "to prepare, make" (see taw entry 1), then dy-n-a- may be allied; assumed is an approximate sense development "be joined" > "fit, be suitable" > "be capable."

Noun

borrowed from French dynamique, noun derivative of dynamique dynamic entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1744, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Noun

1868, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dynamic was in 1744

Dictionary Entries Near dynamic

Cite this Entry

“Dynamic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dynamic. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

dynamic

adjective
dy·​nam·​ic
dī-ˈnam-ik
1
also dynamical
-ˈnam-i-kəl
a
: of or relating to physical force or energy
b
: of or relating to dynamics
2
a
: always active or changing
a dynamic city
b
: marked by energy : forceful
a dynamic personality
dynamically
-ˈnam-i-k(ə-)lē
adverb

Medical Definition

dynamic

adjective
dy·​nam·​ic dī-ˈnam-ik How to pronounce dynamic (audio)
1
also dynamical
a
: of or relating to physical force or energy
b
: of or relating to dynamics
2
: functional sense 1b
a dynamic disease
3
a
: marked by continuous usually productive activity or change
a dynamic population
b
: marked by energy or forcefulness
a dynamic personality
dynamically adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on dynamic

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